The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-06-16
M'ELHONE'S MEMORIES.
The Old Stenographer's Rccollections
Webster, Clay and Cass.

! The Old Stenographer's Recollections of
Webster. Clay and Cass.
Mr.. McElhone has been stenogrsoher
of the House with one year in the
Senate) since he was seventeen years
old, having gone there right from coll
lege. He is a man little above
medium height, with sandy gray hair,
cropped short, and whiskers of the
same shape. He moves about-or
rather Jumps abOut-the House with
nervous activity, and his fingers are
always in motion. He is well informed in
parliamentary matters, is reader Of
| books, and has fund of recollections
of his associations with public men who
hive been in Congress since 1S49. He
has one of the finest private libraries
to be found anywhere. Seated in his
den, he is surrounded by rare books
and souvenirs. His books of reference
cover almost every conceivable inquiry.
He first appeared as a Congressional
stenographer during the compromise
Congress. He was first in the Senate
for a year.
IL remember" he said, as he sat in
his study the other evening talking
with reporter, THAT could hardly
keep from laughing the first speech |
reported. 1t was Senator S. n. Downs,
a tall. ungainly man with the most
ridiculous gestures. He stood with his
shoulders thrown back, and all his
gestures throughout the speech was
made behind. 1t was most
absurd figure. But he was a
nice man, as pleasant and agree
able as ever You saw. Most of the
statesmen of those days were agreeable
days the Congressional reporters came
from England. They did not take
every thing said, as is done now. They
reported just what they thought
proper, and left the rest with barely a
reference. They exercised their own
discretion. You will see by looking
over the old records that they would
wind up with Messrs. So-and-So and
SO-and-So spoke upon the question.
Mr.. Calhoun, then in the House, used
to be badly treated as to reports. The
stenographers did not have to report
him unless they wanted to, and, as he
was difficult, they did not devote much
time to him. / remember reported
speech for him when first went to the
House. | was so small then that men,
bers used to take me for page, greatly
to my Indignation. Calhoun had a
rapid, conversational style of speaking,
that was difficult to report for those
who got along easily with the rolling
measures of Webster's eloquence or the
more artificial oratory of Clay. He was
a pleasant man. He stood straight,
with a dignified bearing, and like Web
ster, was always kind and gentle with
boys.
Webster was a comparatively easy
man to report" he went on. His
language ran so smooth and musical,
and was so full of force it seemed in
spired and spontaneous. The art in his
speeches was not as easily detected as
in the speeches made by Clay. l could
always tell when he was going to make
a speech. Ordinarily he was careless,
wearing a steelpen coat and high
black cravat. When saw him in his
blue coat with bright brass buttons, his
eyes bright, his manner alert and
active, sitting squarely up in his seat,
seeing and hearing and knowing every
thing. knew he was going to speak.
He had a most wonderful power of ex-
PLANTATION, and could make the most
difficult point so clear that you would
wonder why you did not see it that way
before. He possessed great calmness
and repose, and made few gestures in
speaking Clay had a way of throwing
himself back when he spoke. His
voice was well under control and never
harsh. In private life he was irascible.
In public he was suave, and remarkable
for his great politeness. Benton did not
like him; did not regard him as man
Of any learning. Benton used two
pairs of glasses when he read. He
would have one on his nose and would
hold the other in his hand, drawing them
back and forth to get the focus, while
he looked at book and questioned the
Kentucky orator as he might \ school
boy. He was much disguised because
Clay pronounced Chihuahua just as the
English sound of letters might indicate,
instead of 'Che-wa-wa.' Clay nearly
always had one shoe unlaced and his
trousers tucked up inside of it
There probably never was man so
thoroughly American in Congress as
General Cass. He WAS great traveller
and reader of travels. He was very
fond also of ale, but be would never
drink it from glass. 1t must be in an
old stone pitcher, and he would put that
up to his mouth and drink from the
rim. In those days there was not much
time lost in parliamentary discussion.
The rules were generally better known
to the members, and if one was violat-
ing them all that was necessary was to .
call attention to ii. There was no need
of long arguments to prove it Nash
ingtOn StGr.